An Apple a Day

December 13, 2024

We’ve all heard this old saying: An apple a day keeps the doctor away. Today, that “apple” is preventive care. And “keeping the doctor away” — is not good advice. Annual check-ups are key to good health. Healthy Blue has you covered there, starting with annual adult well-visits with no copay. Check out our Member Handbook to learn more. 

Preventive care also includes screening for certain illnesses — like cancer. For women, that includes screenings for breast and cervical cancers. 

Breast Cancer: Mammograms are the best way to detect breast cancer early.  For women with average risk, mammograms start at age 40 and then every 1-2 years after. Healthy Blue covers mammograms!

What about breast self-exams? We don’t hear much about those anymore. That’s because most health organizations no longer recommend them as the best way to detect cancer. Even so, many experts still agree that knowing how your breasts normally look and feel is a good idea. That way you will notice if something changes — and then tell your doctor about it.

Cervical Cancer: There are two tests that can help screen for cancer and precancer conditions of the cervix: the human papillomavirus (HPV) test and the Pap smear.

The HPV test looks for the virus that can cause cell changes on the cervix. The Pap test (or Pap smear) looks for precancers, cell changes on the cervix that might become cervical cancer if they are not treated.

Both tests can be done in a doctor's office or clinic. 

• Pap smear screenings start at age 21. 
• The HPV vaccine should start during the pre-teen years — for both girls and boys. It starts at age 11, with a two-shot series before age 15 and a three-shot series after age 15. But it’s not just for tweens and teens: the vaccine is actually approved for adults ages 45 and under. So, it’s not too late to get the vaccine if you’re in this age range. 

At its core, prevention is all about making the time to take care of yourself. Don’t wait until you get sick to see your doctor. Visit your primary care provider (PCP) or OB/GYN once a year for a regular checkup. Don’t forget — Healthy Blue covers annual well-woman visits. So go to your doctor and ask what screenings you should get —and then follow that advice! 

To see what benefits and services Healthy Blue covers, be sure to read your Member Handbook.